Are you supplier independent? 

In an editorial of the NRC (dutch newspaper) of 12 February 2004 a statement is quoted concerning "the way Microsoft have met its competitors, after it was condemned because of monopolistic practices “is unique and without precedent in the computer branch”. Thus explained a spokesman after an American federal court had condemned the software giant to take measures. Then the newspaper puts the finger at an completely other serious shortcoming: There is quite something else at Microsoft that rather deserve the title “unique and without precedent'': a serious leak in new versions of the operating system Windows. Because nearly the complete world uses Windows, an direct link is put between this risk and the monopoly position of Microsoft:

“Dependence of computer applications makes institutions and persons on itself already vulnerable. It is extra risky when there is also the dependence of only one supplier. The 'breach in Windows' turns the new parole of trustworthiness that Microsoft's Bill Gates has declared into an hollow phrase.

The European Union has taken over the token. On 25 March 2004 the same newspaper reports: “The European Commission has imposed an high record fine of almost half a billion euro on the “near-monopolist” Microsoft yesterday. But with that Brussels is not yet ready the company….”

There are also other manners to reduce the dependence of Microsoft. There is alternative software sufficiently on the world market, as there is open source software, where the dependence of one single supplier is lacking entirely. Problem is however, the exchange standard, but here too alternatives are on there way. The Open Source community uses open standards, which are allowed to be used and can be used by others, but if Microsoft will ever do that in the long run?

Do you want more detailed information? Of course you can always make an appointment without engagement. An appointment for the exchange of ideas concerning possible support, second opinion or quick scan. In a quick scan we analyse your situation in a couple of days or weeks.

Or possibly you want to interest others for this within your organisation?

NRC (dutch newspaper) of 12 February and 25 March 2004